Report on 'alternative custody' program in Butte County says it is doing pretty well

OROVILLE — Necessity is said to be the mother of invention, and when the state dumped scores of prisoners into Butte County's lap, invention and innovation were certainly necessary.

That was the situation a year ago when a state law went into effect, shifting a class of convicts referred to as the "nons" from state to county responsibility.

Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors heard a report on how the county has responded to that challenge, which found it's done pretty well.

Under the state law, AB109, individuals convicted of crimes described as "non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious" were left to the county for incarceration or some other option.

Butte County Sheriff Jerry Smith told the supervisors a program called "alternative custody supervision" was developed to take the pressure off the jail.

Undersheriff Kory Honea said offenders are put through a detailed review to determine whether they have to be kept in jail or might respond to an alternative.

Currently, 107 of the "nons" are participating in the alternative option. Each individual is fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet and they are expected to remain in their homes 24-7.

"In essence, we turn their home into a jail," said Honea.

The undersheriff said the home incarceration costs the county about $20 a day per inmate, as opposed to $90 a day in jail.

With permission, the inmates are allowed out to attend required meetings, go to the doctor's office or buy groceries. They can be driven to these or take public transportation, but they have time limits to make their trips.

The individuals are also required to attend classes designed to reduce the likelihood they will break the law.

While the goal is to keep these people out of jail, sometimes it is necessary to get their attention.

A person who breaks a minor regulation can immediately be sent to jail in what's called "flash incarceration."

They are held in jail for six days to give them time to consider cooperating in the future.

People in the program must take classes including drug and alcohol abuse-recovery, anger management, theft prevention, parenting courses and educational classes.

One of the more unusual required classes is "moral recognition therapy," which is to help the individual learn how to make better choices.

Fourteen of the offenders have cut off their bracelets, which is an immediate failure. Honea said it is technically an escape and could result in a return to state prison.

Chico State University professor of criminal justice Jon Caudill and a team of university interns have done crime statistic reviews to study the way the program has affected public safety.

"Based on that, it looks like the county is doing a great job," he said.

Sheriff Smith put it this way: "Are we safe out there? Yes, we are; at least we are as safe as we have ever been."

Asking another question of himself, he said, "Do we make releases that we particularly don't want to? Yes, we do."

Selecting people who go into the program is a "calculated risk."

Caudill called the process a "population validated risk assessment" where they try to compare approaches that have worked elsewhere to see if they will work in Butte County.

"All these people, prior to a year ago, would have gone to state prison," said the professor.

Honea said they will continue to watch how things are going and adjust as needed.

"We are pretty nimble. If we can find an approach that will impact that program, we will give it a shot."

Staff writer Roger H. Aylworth can be reached at 896-7762, raylworth@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @RogerAylworth.